74 PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PASTURES 



mown before the foliage turns yellow at the base, or it is liable 

 to rot. Sinclair says that it is unprofitable for any purpose on 

 dry exposed situations. 



Poa trivialis flowers at the usual time for cutting hay, but 

 is especially useful for pastures nevertheless. The herbage is 

 of more value at the time of ripening seed than earlier in the 

 season, but as ripening does not take place until the end of 

 July, it is impossible in the South of England to keep the hay 

 crop waiting for it. The aftermath is good after early cutting 

 only. Sinclair advises its use for permanent pastures on rich 

 soils and in sheltered positions, and I quite agree with this 

 view. Valuable as this grass is for such situations, I do not 

 consider that for any other land it is worth while to incur the 

 cost of seed, which, if true, is always expensive. Wherever 

 Poa pratensis will answer, it should be used instead. 



When not in flower this species is recognisable by the 

 slender leaf, which gradually tapers from the base to the tip of 

 the blade, and has a well-marked keel. The young leaves are 

 compressed, and folded on the mid-rib, the lower sheaths are 

 loose and tinged violet-purple. 



At Kidmore nitrate of soda and muriate of potash had 

 a marked effect on the development of this grass ; ammonia 

 salts diminished its growth. The Rothamsted experiments 

 have clearly established the fact that in this respect it differs 

 altogether from Poa pratensis. 



For illustration, description, and chemical analysis, see 

 5s. Edition. 



POA NEMORALIS SEMPERVIRENS 



{Hudson's Bay or Evergreen Meadow Crass). 



This variety grows very early in spring, yields a greater 

 bulk of herbage than Poa pratensis, bears drought remarkably 

 well, and is the most valuable of the cultivated Poas. For 

 lawns and ornamental grounds it answers admirably, and is 



